Caitlyn Fox and the seven other first-year teammates which make up the 2020-21 Salem soccer roster can be recognized, in a single phrase, as the future of the Spirit soccer program. Fox and the remaining members of the 2024 class, along with the nine sophomores that are in place on the roster, will attempt to lead Salem back to the USA South Conference Tournament for the fifth time since the 2016 campaign.
Fox joined head coach Octavia Saunders' program after graduating from North Iredell High School in 2020, where she competed under head coaches Tyler Dinkins (2016-18) and Tyler Carter (2018-20) during her prep career. She earned the title of team captain as a senior and was also distinguished as a North Carolina High School Athletic Association Team Scholar Athlete during the course of her career at North Iredell.
In addition to serving as an integral part of her North Iredell unit, Fox was active on the Club Soccer circuit, where she began playing for coaches Chris Barker and Steve Fenlon at Impact FC Explosion in 2014. After two years, she joined the Impact FC Blaze (2016-17), playing for Kevin Proctor, and captured a Twin City Classic Championship in the process.
As a member of head coach Chad Metzler's LNSC02 Elite program, Fox reached the N.C. State Cup semifinals in 2017-18. The following season, Fox captured the CSA Invitational Championship and Lake Norman Fall Classic title with LNSC02 Blue under the direction of coach Adam Denton. In her final year on the Club Soccer circuit, Fox played for CISC 01-02 North Elite, winning Independence Cup crown for coach Greg Ashton in 2019-20.
Academically, Fox was also successful, graduating Magna Cum Laude from North Iredell. She served as a Junior Marshall and received the school's Career and Technical Education Honors award. Fox was a member of Beta Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Raiders with a Reason. She was named to National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society.
Fox recently sat down to discuss her future at Salem, both off and on the field, and provided the following answers:
Name: Caitlyn Fox
Sport(s): Soccer
Who inspired you to play this sport and why? My cousin Caleb inspired me to play soccer when I was two years old. He was a teenager at that point so he would play outside at family events and I wanted to be just like him. Soccer just seemed so fun to me and I fell in love with it early on.
Describe some of the things that you have done, while being away from campus during the COVID-19 pandemic, that have made an impact on your life. I have continued to work at my job while I am home. I go to the gym often and spend time with my friends when I have time. I feel like it is important to do these things in order to have sense of normal and have a routine.
Favorite Food: Any type of pasta, tacos, and steak.
Favorite Class at Salem: My favorite class currently is my Introduction to Criminology with Professor Zhang. Criminology is a passion of my mine. I come from a law enforcement/military family, so I have always had an interest in it. Now I get to explore it and learn about it myself.
What is the one thing that you have learned most by competing in athletics that you apply in everyday life? Soccer has taught me how to work as a team and just work hard at everything I do. I was told at young age that "hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard." You have to work hard if you want to achieve your goals. It's the drive, grit, and determination that soccer has given me that I will carry with me in all aspects of my life forever.
What do you look forward to most in taking the field for the first time at Salem? I look forward to being with the girls and playing again. When the season comes around it will be almost 2 years since I played in a game. I have never had that long of a break, so I look forward to stepping back onto the field.
Intended major and any thoughts about your career once you finish college? I plan on majoring in Criminal Studies. I either want to go to law school after college or work my way up to the FBI.
Superstitions that are in my pregame ritual: I'm not too superstitious, but I feel that it is important that I pray before every game that everyone will safe, that I have a good game, and just to thank Him. The Lord has given me the ability and opportunity to play, and it is important to give Him thanks for that.
How did you pick your jersey number: If I could, I was always #5 growing up. I don't know why but I had a connection to that number. A few years ago, I found that my cousin wore it when he played and that my dad had 5 in his football jersey. When Coach Saunders said that the number was available, I had to pick it.
Favorite person to follow on social media: My favorite person to follow is Kelley O'Hara. She plays for the US Women's National Team and I started following her right before the 2015 World Cup. She wears my number and plays in my old position so she was a big inspiration to me.
If you could travel anywhere where would you go: I really want to go to Costa Rica and Bora Bora. They are just absolutely stunning places. I love being out in nature and I have never been out of the country so that would be fun to do.
What made you decide to attend Salem: I loved the atmosphere when I stepped onto campus. Coach Saunders also made me feel very welcomed and at home when I visited. It just felt right being there. It is a hard feeling to describe, but you just kind of feel like that's where you're supposed to be. I knew that I wanted Salem to my home for the next four years.